Method and means for scanning a pattern card of a dobby



Oct. 30, 1962 E. PFARRWALLER 3,050,975

METHOD AND MEANS FOR SCANNING A PATTERN CARD OF A DOBBY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 21, 1961 a RM 5 4 49A 4/ 1/, .1... A. Jwwmm A W m w 2 A, AAF J K i 6 .m 4 1W7?- F A. 4 w.

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Oct. 30, 1962 E. PFARRWALLER 3,060,975

. METHOD AND MEANS FOR SCANNING A PATTERN CARD OF A DOBBY Flled Aprll 211961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Ti b1 b2 b3 b b5 65 67 1512" time" Jnvenlar: E1?wuv PF'H e2 WHLLEQ.

Oct. 30, 1962 E. PFARRWALLER 3,060,975 METHOD AND MEANS FOR SCANNING APATTERN CARD OF A DOBBY Filed April 21, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 *x 69 6198j 72 104 57 101 I 7 7 -z Q 44. g 105 Jnvenfor: EEWlNPFflE/EWALLE/Z.

A ida/we 3,660,975 METHOD AND MEANS FOR SCANNWG A PATTERN CARD OF ABOBBY Erwin Pfarrwaller, Winterthur, Switzerland, assignor to SulzerFreres, S.A., Winterthur, Switzerland, :1 corporation of SwitzerlandFiled Apr. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 104,673 Claims priority, applicationSwitzerland Apr. 26, 1960 8 Claims. (Cl. 139-317) The present inventionrelates to a method and means for scanning a periodically advancedpattern card of a card controlled shedding mechanism of a loom forweaving.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of my copendingapplication Serial No. 86,487, filed February 1, 1961.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a method andapparatus for scanning the holes in a pattern card of a card controlleddobby for actuating the heddle frames in a loom for weaving whereby thespacing of the hole rows which are at a right angle to the direction ofmovement of the pattern card and which must be scanned at every pick ofa weft thread through a shed formed by warp threads can be much smallerthan in conventional methods and apparatus.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a method andapparatus for scanning the holes in a pattern card of a card controlleddobby for actuating the heddle frames in a loom for weaving whereby thepattern card can be provided with first holes forming rows across thepattern card and also forming rows parallel to the direction of advancemovement of the pattern card and the pattern card can be provided withadditional rows of holes parallel to and between the rows formed by saidfirst holes so that the spacing of the hole rows across the pattern cardis substantially reduced because the holes of successive rows are placedin staggered relation.

These objects are achieved by advancing the pattern card relatively toscanning means formed by pegs supported by a peg guide or holder onlyafter a plurality of successive weft thread picks and by moving thescanning means relatively to the pattern card in the directionlongitudinally of and also at an angle to the longitudinal extension ofthe pattern card for scanning the transverse hole rows of the patterncard which must be scanned for the weft thread picks between the picksat which the pattern card is advanced.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, and additional objects and advantages thereof will bestbe understood from the following description of embodiments thereof whenread in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic part-sectional elevation of a portion of aweaving machine and of a pattern card controlled dobby for controllingthe movement of the heddle frames connected thereto.

FIG. 2 is a large scale part-sectional elevation of the pattern cardresponsive mechanism of the dobby.

FIG. 3 is a part-sectional elevation of the scanning mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a portion of the pattern card.

FIG. 6 is a part-sectional elevation of a mechanism for advancing thepattern card and for positioning the guide bar for the scanning pegs.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 6 in rolledout representation, the section being made along line VIIVI I of FIG. 6.

3,060,975 Patented Oct. 30, 1962 FIG. 8 is a diagram showing themovements of the heddle frames, of the mechanism for actuating theheddle frames, and of the mechanism for advancing the pattern card andpositioning the scanning pegs.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawing, numeral 10designates a weaving machine having a heddle frame 11 supported by anelement 12 which is reciprocatingly movable in a vertical guide 15 andactuated by an angle lever 13 to which it is connected by a link 14. Thelever 13 is connected by a linkage 16 to an actuating lever 17 formingpart of a dobby 18 and connected by a link 19 to a rocking lever 2.1.The solid lines show the heddle frame actuating mechanism in lower shedposition. The broken line representation of the lever 17 shows this partin position corresponding to the upper shed position of the heddleframe.

Numeral 22 designates a shaft which is driven by the main shaft of theweaving machine 10 at the same speed as the main shaft of the loom. Ashaft 24 is connected to the shaft 22 by means of a chain 23 and isdriven at half the speed of the shaft 22. The shaft 24 drives a liftingmechanism, usually comprising reciprocating lifter rails with whichlifting blades are selectively engaged by a control mechanism, whichwill be described later, in response to the apertures in a pattern card.The lifting blades actuate the rocking levers 21 either directly orindirectly. A suitable heddle frame lifting mechanism is disclosed in mycopending application Serial No. 86,492, filed February 1, 1961. Arocking lever 21 is provided for each heddle frame of the weavingmachine.

A sprocket wheel mounted on the shaft 24 drives a sprocket wheel 26which actuates a mechanism for rotat-ing and for lifting and lowering apattern card cylinder 27.

The pattern car-d reading device shown in FIG. 2 comprises the cardcylinder 27 and reading pegs 28 which are vertically movable in a guidebar 29 for scanning the apertures in a pattern card 32 (FIG. 5). Thecard cylinder may be rotated for advancing the pattern card when thecylinder is in the lower position shown by a broken line 0. FIG. 2 showsthe card cylinder 27 in an intermediate position between an extreme lowposition c and an extreme upper position a. FIG. 2 shows a peg 28resting on an unperforated portion of the pattern card. When the cardcylinder is in the position b the pattern card is adjacent to the lowerends 33 of the pegs 28 when the latter have dropped to their lowermostposition.

The upper end of each peg 28 is provided with a head 34 on which reststhe end of a control rod 35. The latter are adapted to be selectivelyengaged and reciprocatingly moved by control rails 36, 37 for swinging acontrol lever 38 on a stationary fulcrum 39 to its end positions. Thelever is connected by links 40a and 40b to lifting blades, not shown, inthe manner shown in my copending application Serial No. 86,492.Depending on whether the lever 38 is in the right extreme'position shownin FIG. 2 or in the left extreme position, the lifting blade connectedto the link 40a or the lifting blade connected to the link 40b isengaged by a lifter rail (not shown).

If a peg 28 meets with a hole in the pattern card 32 the peg drops inthe guide bar 29 until the head 34 of the peg rests on the guide wherebythe control rod 35 assumes its lowermost position d and is engaged bythe actuating rail 36. if the peg end 33 is opposite an unperforatedportion of the pattern card and the card cylinder is lifted from theposition 6 to the position a, the peg 28 is lifted in the guide bar 29whereby the control rod 35 resting on the head 34 of the peg is moved tothe upper position e wherein it can be engaged by the actuating rail 37.The rails 36 and 37 are shown in their middle positions in FIG. 2. Theyare reciprocatingly moved in opposite direction by a mechanism, notshown, and dis closed in my copending application Serial No. 86,492. Therails 36 and 37 move in opposite directions in the sequence shown byarrows in FIG. 2. I

As seen in FIGS; 3 and 4, the guide bar 29 for the pegs 28 is suspendedat each end'by a pin 30, the pins being mounted on arms 41a and 4112which are rockable on pins 42 mounted on the frame 31 and affordmovement of the guide bar parallel to its longitudinal axis. FIG. 4shows the guide bar in full lines in position A. It can be swung to theposition B indicated by dash-dot lines for movement of the pegs 28 frompositions 28:1 and 28:1 to positions 28b and 28b respectively. When theguide bar 29' is in position A, the pegs scan the rows of holes a aetc., of the card 32 (FIG. and when the guide bar is in the position Bthe pegs scan the rows of holes b b etc.

The ends of the control rods 35 resting on the heads 34 of the scanningpegs 28 are wide enough to be engaged by the pegs 28 in the positions28a as well as 28!). Since the guide bar moves longitudinally of as wellas at an angle to the longitudinal extension of the pattern card, theholes of consecutive transverse hole rows can be placed in staggeredrelation so that efficient use can be made of the space available on thecard. The mechanism shown in FIG. 6 for rotating the card cylinder 27comprises a shaft 47 which is rotatably mounted in the frame 31 of thedobby 18 and to which a wheel '48 carrying a pin 49 is rigidlyconnected. The sprocket wheel 26 is rotatable and axially movable on theshaft 47. The pin 49 is adapted to be received in gaps 51 between teethof a wheel 52 which is rotatable on a shaft 53 mounted on the frame 31.A gear 54 engaging a gear 55 is rigidly connected to the gear 52.

The gear 55 is rotatable on a shaft 56 oscillatably "mounted on theframe 31. Two arms 57 are fast on the shaft 56. The free ends of thearms 57 carry a rod 53 supporting the card cylinder 27. A gear 59 drivenby the gear 55 through gears 61 rotatably mounted on at least one of thearms 57 is coaxially connected to the card cylinder.

A point 62 at the lower end of a locking pin 63 guided for verticalmovement by a guide 64 mounted to the frame 31 and urged to movedownward by a spring 65 fits into the gaps between the teeth of the gear59.

A gear 66 is made fast on the shaft 47 and drives a gear 68 through agear 67 in the direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 6. The gear 68 isprovided with a groove 69 receiving a roller 71 mounted on a rod 72. Thelatter is guided for substantially vertical movement by a guide 73mounted to or forming part of the frame of the dobby. The upper end ofthe rod 72 is pivotally connected at 74 to one of the arms 57.

The gear '68 drives a gear 100 on a shaft 101 which issupported by abearing 102 connected to the frame 31. A disc 103 provided with a camgroove 104 is rigid- 1y connected to the shaft 101.

The cam groove 104 is followed by a roller 46 at the end of a two-armlever 44 which is rockable on a statiohary fulcrum 45 mounted on theframe 31. The upper arm of the lever 44 is pivotally connected to oneend of a rod 43, the second end of the rod being pivotally connected tothe arm 41b for rocking the peg guide bar 29.

The shaft 47 is driven at the same speed as the shaft 24. Therefore, thegear 66 rotates at half the speed of the main drive shaft, i.e., itmakes one revolution during the time two consecutive weft threads areinserted. The gears 68 and 100 rotate at the same speed as the gear 66and the card cylinder 27 advances the card 32 by one hole row L per twoshuttle picks. During the time the card 32 stands still the guide 29 ismoved from the position A to the position B, as shown in FIG. 4. Sincethe cam disc 103 rotates at one half of the speed of the weavingmachine, the follower roller 46 is at one pick in the left positionshown in FIG. 6 and the guide bar is in the position A, and at thesubsequent pick the roller is at right and diametrically opposed to theposition in which it is shown in FIG. 6 and the guide bar 29 is in theposition B.

When the guide bar 29 is moved and the card cylinder is not rotated, thelatter must be lowered to release the pegs 28. For this reason thegroove 69 is so shaped as to place the roller 71 twice into an upperposition and twice into a lower position during one revolution of thegear 68 so that the card cylinder is lowered and lifted at each shuttlepick.

A locking lever 76 swingable on the shaft 56 has an arm whose endcarries a locking roller 75 adapted to engage the gaps 51 between theteeth of the gear 52. The lever 76 is urged to swing clockwise by meansof a spring 77 interposed between the end of a second arm of the lever'76 which second arm is placed at an angle to the first arm, and anabutment 78 mounted on the arm 57.

FIG. 7 shows a section of the mechanism shown in FIG. 6 in rolled outrepresentation showing the lateral relative position of theaforedescribed elements. A clutch is interposed between the sprocketwheel 26 and the wheel 43. The wheel 26 is freely rotatable on the shaft47 to the right end of which a hand wheel '81 is mounted. A spring sointerposed between the hand wheel 81 and the sprocket wheel 26 pressesthe latter against pins 82 mounted on the wheel 48 and having conicalheads fitting into conical cavities 83 in the sprocket wheel 26.

Operation of the device is now explained with reference to the diagramFIG. 8.

The abscissa in the diagram FIG. 8 represents the angular positions ofthe main shaft of the weaving machine 10. The ordinates represent thestrokes of individual elements of the system. Lines A and B representthe movements of two heddle frames. Since a weft thread is inserted inthe shed formed by warp threads during each revolution of the main loomshaft, certain heddle frames are in the upper shed position during onerevolution and are in the lower shed position during another revolutionof the loom shaft, depending on the weave pattern. The drive shaft 24 ofthe dobby rotates at one half of the speed ofthe loom shaft and thelifter rails actuating the heddle frames make one stroke in one di*rection and one stroke in the opposite direction during two revolutionsof the drive shaft of the weaving machine. Since there are two lifterrails, if the rails move in the same direction, and since there are twolifting blades for each heddle frame, the lifting blades may be so movedto be engaged by the lifter rails that each beddle frame may be movedaccording to the line A or ac cording to the line B, whether the lifterrails move in one direction or in the opposite direction.

The pattern card 32 is provided with a row of holes L L to L L for eachshuttle pick and is advanced from one row of holes to the next row ofholes. Since the sprocket wheel 26 has the same number of teeth as thesprocket wheel 25 (FIG. 1), the shaft 47 and the wheel 48 rotate at onehalf of the speed of the main loom shaft. The changeover from scanningthe rows L to scanning the rows L of the holes in the pattern card iseffected exclusively by the movement of the guide bar 29. The patterncard is moved onlyat the rows L i.e., at every second pick. The gear 52is advanced by one tooth and the card 32 is advanced by one hole row Lat every revolution of the pin wheel 48. Since the tooth pitch of thegear 52 is greater than the pitch of the hole rows and the diameter ofthe tooth pitch circle of the gear 52 is greater than the diameter ofthe card cylinder 27, a corresponding step-down is required for thegears 54 and 55.

Scanning of a row of holes of the pattern card 32 takes place uponlifting of the card cylinder from the position c to the position a (FIG.2). This is illustrated by line F in FIG. 8. At point P the roller 71 inFIG. 6 is in the position f Each peg 28 which is in lowermost position(FIG. 2.) with the head 34 resting on the guide 29 must have left therespective hole in the pattern card 32 before the card can be advancedat point G of the line G in FIG. 8 which represents the movement of thepattern card. Thereupon the pin 49 enters the gap 51a of the gear 52which is advanced by one tooth pitch and fixed in that position by thelocking roller 75 which has entered a new tooth gap. The new position isillustrated by point G in FIG. 8. In the meantime the card cylinder 27has reached its lowermost position c at F and has already been liftedbefore the pattern card has reached the new position G The card cylinder27 must not reach position b in FIG. 2 before the pattern card hasreached the positions G G shown in FIG. 8. When the card cylindercontinues to move upward from the position b the pegs 28 enter holes inthe pattern card and the advance of the latter must be completed beforethis happens.

Line H in FIG. 8 shows the movement of the peg guide bar 29. Between thepositions F and F of the card cylinder whose movement corresponds to theline F in FIG. 8, the guide bar 29 is moved from position H to positionH i.e., from position B to position A shown in FIG. 4. During this timethe pattern card 32 has been moved by one hole row from position G toposition G in FIG. 8.

After completion of one revolution of the main loom shaft the cardcylinder 27 is lowered between the positions F and F shown in FIG. 8.The card 32, however, is not advanced and the bar 29 is moved fromposition A to position B between H and H of the line H in FIG. -8 sothat the hole row L can be scanned.

The same happens when the card cylinder is between the positions F and Fas has happened when the cylinder was between the positions F and F Theline H shows the transition from H to H and the line G -G shows theadvance of the card 32 by one hole row.

Since the locking lever 76 stops the gear 52, the gear 55 cannot moverelatively to the frame 31 of the dobby 18. The shaft 56 supporting thegear 55 forms the fulcrum of the arms 57 supporting the card cylinder.

When the gear 55 does not move, the adjacent gear 61 rolls on the gear55 upon continued swinging of the arms 57 from the position b to theposition a in FIG. 6. Therefore, the gear 59 and the card cylinder 27make a translatory movement during the rocking of the lever 57 fromposition b to position a, i.e., the hole row to be scanned moves throughthe same are as the rod 58 which supports the card cylinder, i.e. theradial plane of the card cylinder on which the hole row is located,remains in a vertical position.

With the apparatus according to the invention a pattern card 32 whosehole rows a are widely spaced, for example, because of spacerequirements of the heddle frames, can be more efiiciently used. Sincethe guide bar 29 affords provision of hole rows b between the hole rowsa and the hole rows b can be scanned without advancing the patterncard,'the length of the card can be reduced.

If the hole rows a are widely spaced longitudinally of the pattern card,two or more rows b can be associated with each row a. This, of course,necessitates movement of the bar 29' from the base position A into aplurality of subpositions and a corresponding shaping of the cam grooves104 and 69. In this case the rotational speed of the shaft 47 would haveto be still less so that the pattern card 32 is advanced by one step perthree, four, etc., picks, depending on the number of subpositions of theguide bar.

I claim: v

-1. A method for controlling a dobby forming part of a weaving machinewherein weft threads are picked through a shed formed by warp threads,the dobby including a pattern card and scanning means for scanning thepattern card and controlling the operation of the dobby, the methodincluding the steps of periodically longitudinally advancing the patterncard relatively to the scanning means for scanning predetermined partsof the pattern card at predetermined moments, and of periodically movingthe scanning means relatively to the pattern card for scanning portionsof the pattern card located between said parts.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein each advance of the patterncard and each movement of the scanning means is coordinated to a pick ofa weft thread through the shed formed by warp threads.

3. In a loom for weaving having heddle frames, a dobby for actuating theheddle frames, a pattern card, means for scanning said pattern card,said scanning means being operatively connected to said dobby forcontrolling operation thereof, and means for periodically longitudinallyadvancing said pattern card relatively to said scanning means forscanning predetermined parts of the pattern card at predeterminedmoments: means operatively connected to said advancing means and to saidscanning means for periodically moving said scanning means relatively tosaid pattern card for scanning portions of the pattern card locatedbetween said predetermined parts.

4. In a loom for weaving as defined in claim 3 and wherein said scanningmeans is movable in a direction longitudinally of and at an angle to thelongitudinal extension of said pattern card.

5. In a loom for weaving as defined in claim 3 and wherein said scanningmeans includes a plurality of pegs and said pattern card has holes forselectively receiving said pegs, said means for moving said scanningmeans including a guide bar axially movably supporting said pegs andextending at a right angle to the direction of the advance movement ofand parallel to said pattern card, and a lever swingable on a stationaryfulcrum at each end of said guide bar, one of said levers beingoperatively connected to said advancing means for actuation thereby, thefree ends of said levers being pivotally connected to the ends of saidguide bar, said levers and said guide bar forming a parallelogram formoving said guide bar parallel to itself upon swinging of one of saidlevers.

6. In a loom for weaving having drive means, means actuated by saiddrive means for picking weft threads through a shed formed by warpthreads, heddle frames, a dobby actuated by said drive means foractuating the heddle frames, a pattern card, means for scanning thepattern card, said scanning means being operatively connected to saiddobby for controlling operation thereof, a card cylinder for saidpattern card, and a mechanism operatively connected to and driven bysaid drive means for periodically actuating said card cylinder forperiodically longitudinally advancing said pattern card relatively tosaid scanning means for scanning predetermined parts of said patterncard at predetermined moments: means operatively connected to saidmechanism and to said scanning means for periodically moving saidscanning means relatively to said pattern card for scanning portions ofsaid pattern card located between said predetermined parts, saidmechanism including means for moving said card cylinder and said patterncard away from said scanning means upon every advance movement of saidpattern card and upon every movement of said scanning means.

7. In a loom for weaving as defined in claim 6 and wherein saidmechanism includes a cam means and a cam follower means associatedtherewith for effecting movement of said card cylinder, and a cam meansand a cam follower means associated therewith for effecting movement ofsaid scanning means, said cam means making one revolution per two weftthread picks.

8. In a loom for Weaving as defined in claim 6 and wherein saidmechanism includes a cam means and a cam follower means associatedtherewith for effecting movement of said card cylinder, and a cam meansand a cam follower means associated therewith for effecting movement ofsaid scanning means to a plurality of posi- 8 tions for scanning aplurality of portions of the pattern card between two parts of thepattern card scanned upon advance movement of the pattern card, said cammeans making one revolution per a number of weft thread picks whichnumber is equal to the number of scanning positions of said scanningmeans.

No references cited.

